Exactly 20 years after the competition began, Liverpool landed their first trophy. It would be the first of four consecutive league cup triumphs as Liverpool won the competition for fun throughout the early part of the eighties.

Liverpool's first appearance in the final of the competition had come three years earlier but the Reds had lost in controversial fashion in a cup final replay to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, after the first leg at Wembley finished 0-0. They ended up going down 1-0 to a dubious John Robertson penalty and having a Terry McDermott goal ruled-out.

The Reds travelled to Wembley once again in 1981 for a tie with West Ham United, who were enjoying one of the greatest eras in their history under John Lyall.

Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish fires in the winning goal in the League Cup final

The Reds thought they'd won the game, and the cup, at Wembley with a goal two minutes before the end of extra time from Alan Kennedy, only for the Hammers to equalize in the final minute.

The Reds headed to Villa Park for the replay, and lifted the cup after initially slipping a goal down in the 10th minute. But goals from Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen won the game for Paisley's men.

Bob lifts the cup

Bob Paisley had won trophy after trophy with Liverpool and he finished his time in charge at Anfield with a hat-trick of league cups, the last of which came against Manchester United at Wembley in 1983.

Norman Whiteside opened the scoring for United in the 12th minute of the game, and it looked as though Paisley's last major final in charge of the Reds was petering out.

Bob Paisley ex Liverpool manager at the League Cup Final in 1983

But 15 minutes from time Alan Kennedy hit a low, hard shot through a crowd of players to draw level. Then, in the eighth minute of extra-time, Ronnie Whelan scored an outstanding curler to bring the cup back to Anfield.

Captain Graeme Souness insisted that Paisley collect the trophy and the quiet Geordie bowed out in familiar fashion - by holding silverware aloft.

Gerard Houllier would bring the league cup back to Anfield as part of a treble of trophies in 2001, beating Birmingham City on penalties after a closely contested final - but the standout performance in the run to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff came in an eight (yes, eight) goal victory over then-League One side Stoke City.

Liverpool travelled to the Britannia Stadium with several first-team players rested, but Robbie Fowler led the way with a hat-trick as Houllier's side ended the night having chalked up their biggest ever away win.

The Potters hit the post early doors but Liverpool went straight up the other end and opened the scoring through Christian Zeige. Vladimir Smicer made it two before Marcus Babbel added a third.

Further goals from Fowler, Sami Hyypia and Danny Murphy rounded-off the win and sent the Reds through to the quarter finals where they beat Fulham 3-0 and Crystal Palace 6-0 over two legs in the semi-finals.

United beaten at Wembley

Michael Owen scores Liverpool's second goal

Houllier's reign at Anfield had begun to unravel before Liverpool returned to the league cup final for a second time and when the Reds travelled to the Millennium Stadium to meet Manchester United, they were heavy underdogs.

Steven Gerrard opened the scoring after the half-hour mark with an effort that looped up off the thigh of David Beckham, and the Reds had Jerzy Dudek, who had suffered humiliation earlier in the season against United, to thank for a string of outstanding saves to keep them ahead.

Michael Owen finished the game off with a brilliant goal on the break four minutes of time and, as half of the stadium emptied out, Reds fans partied in Cardiff as the team clinched their seventh league cup trophy - and the scalp of their great rivals once again.

Kenny wins the cup

Kenny Dalglish smiles with the Carling Cup after LFC beat Cardiff on penalties in the final

Kenny Dalglish's second spell at Anfield may have been short-lived - but the King did what he does best during his one full season in charge, and that was adding another trophy to the collection.

Dalglish completed the set of domestic trophies with a hard-fought victory over Cardiff as he took Liverpool to the new Wembley for the first time.

Liverpool had completed thrilling victories over stiff competition such as Stoke City, Chelsea and Manchester City on the road to Wembley but Championship outfit Cardiff proved to be tough opponents in the final.

Joe Mason opened the scoring for Cardiff but Martin Skrtel scrambled home to draw the Reds level. Dirk Kuyt scored a wonderful goal to put Dalglish's men ahead in extra-time but Ben Turner managed to equalize moments before the final whistle.

Things didn't look good for the Reds as Gerrard missed the opening penalty in the shoot out before Charlie Adam sent his spot kick sailing into the River Taff.

But Liverpool scored their next three kicks and Anthony Gerrard, Steven's cousin, missed the decisive kick to send the trophy back to Anfield.